U.S. patent number 8,141,722 [Application Number 12/371,235] was granted by the patent office on 2012-03-27 for garment hanging device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to HIP Innovations, LLC.. Invention is credited to Steve G. Heroux.
United States Patent |
8,141,722 |
Heroux |
March 27, 2012 |
Garment hanging device
Abstract
A garment hanging device includes an elongated bar, having a
plurality of receptacles defined in the bar, each of which can
receive a garment hanger. Each receptacle has a receiving portion
open at the top edge of the bar, and a retaining portion between
the top and bottom edges being connected with the receiving
portion. At least one hook is provided, having a coupling end
pivotably coupled to the bar, a hooking portion extending from the
coupling end through an apex portion opposite the coupling end to a
terminal end. A distance between the hook's pivot point on the bar
and a corresponding receptacle corresponds to a distance between
the coupling end and the apex portion such that the hook is flexed
and pivoted into a stowed position wherein the apex portion is
disposed within the corresponding receptacle, and into a deployed
position wherein the apex portion is removed from the corresponding
receptacle.
Inventors: |
Heroux; Steve G. (South
Burlington, VT) |
Assignee: |
HIP Innovations, LLC.
(Williston, VT)
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Family
ID: |
42559012 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/371,235 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100206827 A1 |
Aug 19, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/116; 223/88;
211/113 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
25/1457 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A41D
27/22 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;211/85.3,89.01,96,104,113,116,118,119.004,123,124,175
;223/85,86,88,89,94,DIG.1,DIG.2,DIG.4 ;248/215,304,308,340
;D6/315,323,328 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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3335939 |
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Apr 1985 |
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DE |
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4-146704 |
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May 1992 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Safavi; Michael
Assistant Examiner: Rodden; Joshua
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC
Claims
I claim:
1. A garment hanging device, comprising: an elongated bar having
first and second ends, and top and bottom edges extending between
said first and second ends in a longitudinal direction of said
elongated bar, and at least one pivot socket formed laterally into
or through said elongated bar near one of said first and second
ends; a plurality of receptacles defined in said elongated bar,
each of said receptacles having a receiving portion open at the top
edge of said elongated bar and a retaining portion between said top
and bottom edges being connected with said receiving portion, the
receiving portion having a length in said longitudinal direction
configured to receive a garment hanger, the retaining portion being
configured to retain a hanging garment hanger when said elongated
bar is oriented in either of a substantially vertical position or a
substantially horizontal position; and at least one hook having a
coupling end pivotably coupled to said at least one pivot socket
and a hooking portion extending from the coupling end through an
apex portion of the hook opposite said coupling end to a terminal
end, wherein the hooking portion is configured to be hooked over a
closet rod or the like for hanging the garment hanging device; said
hook being movable between a deployed position in which the hook is
freely pivotable and a stowed position in which the apex portion of
the hook is disposed within the retaining portion of a
corresponding one of said receptacles and out of alignment with the
receiving portion of the corresponding receptacle such that in the
stowed position the hook is prevented from being pivoted away from
moving through the receiving portion and the elongated bar.
2. The garment hanging device according to claim 1, wherein the
retaining portion of said receptacles have a length in said
longitudinal direction greater than the length of said receiving
portion.
3. The garment hanging device according to claim 1, wherein said
retaining portion is a slot extending substantially along said
longitudinal direction and said receiving portion is a slot
extending from said top edge to said retaining portion in a
direction substantially normal to said longitudinal direction.
4. The garment hanging device according to claim 3, wherein said
receiving portion has a first length in the longitudinal direction
and the retaining portion has a second length in the longitudinal
direction greater than said first length.
5. The garment hanging device according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one hook comprises a first hook and a second hook disposed
respectively at said first and second ends of said elongated bar,
wherein one of said first and second hooks is disposed in said
socket.
6. The garment hanging device according to claim 1, wherein said
receiving portion and said retaining portion define an inverted T
shaped receptacle.
7. The garment hanging device according to claim 1, wherein said
hook is removably coupled to said elongated bar.
8. A garment hanging device, comprising: an elongated bar having
first and second ends, top and bottom edges extending between said
first and second ends in a longitudinal direction of said elongated
bar, and at least one pivot socket formed laterally into or through
said elongated bar near one of said first and second ends; a
plurality of receptacles defined in said elongated bar, each of
said receptacles having a receiving portion open at the top edge of
said elongated bar, and a retaining portion between said top and
bottom edges being connected with said receiving portion, the
receiving portion having a first length in said longitudinal
direction and the retaining portion having a second length in said
longitudinal direction greater than the first length such that a
portion of said retaining portion extends past a side wall of said
receiving portion in said longitudinal direction; and at least one
hook having a coupling end pivotably coupled to said pivot socket,
and a hooking portion extending from the coupling end through an
apex portion of the hook opposite said coupling end to a terminal
end, the hooking portion being configured to be hooked over a
closet rod or the like for hanging the garment hanging device and
the hook being resiliently and elastically flexible from a relaxed
state to a flexed state; wherein in said flexed state, said apex
portion is positioned in alignment with the receiving portion of a
corresponding one of said receptacles such that said apex portion
may be moved through said receiving portion and into or out from
the corresponding receptacle, and in said relaxed state said apex
portion is out of alignment with the receiving portion such that
said apex portion is unable to move through said receiving portion;
whereby said hook may be placed into a stowed position by flexing
the hook into said flexed state, pivoting the hook to move its apex
portion into the corresponding receptacle retaining portion and
returning the hook into said relaxed state such that the hook
cannot be pivoted away from said elongated bar and through the
corresponding receiving portion.
9. The garment hanging device according to claim 8, wherein said
retaining portion is a slot extending substantially along said
longitudinal direction and said receiving portion is a slot
extending from said top edge to said retaining portion in a
direction substantially normal to said longitudinal direction.
10. The garment hanging device according to claim 8, wherein said
receiving portion and said retaining portion define a
substantially, inverted, T shaped receptacle.
11. The garment hanging device according to claim 8, wherein said
hook is removably coupled to said elongated bar.
12. A garment hanging device, comprising: an elongated bar having
first and second ends, top and bottom edges extending between said
first and second ends in a longitudinal direction of said elongated
bar, and first and second pivot sockets formed laterally into or
through said elongated bar respectively near said first and second
ends; a plurality of receptacles defined in said elongated bar,
each of said receptacles having a receiving portion open at the top
edge of said elongated bar, and a retaining portion between said
top and bottom edges being connected with said receiving portion,
the receiving portion having a first length in said longitudinal
direction and the retaining portion having a second length in said
longitudinal direction greater than the first length such that a
portion of said retaining portion extends past a side wall of said
receiving portion in said longitudinal direction; and a pair of
hooks each having a coupling end pivotably coupled to a respective
one of said first and second pivot sockets defined proximate to the
ends of the elongated bar, and a hooking portion extending from the
coupling end through an apex portion of the hook opposite said
coupling end to a terminal end, the hooking portion being
configured to be hooked over a closet rod or the like for hanging
the garment hanging device and the hook being resiliently and
elastically flexible from a relaxed state to a flexed state;
wherein in said flexed state, said apex portion is positioned in
alignment with the receiving portion of a corresponding one of said
receptacles such that said apex portion may be moved through said
receiving portion and into or out from the corresponding
receptacle, and in said relaxed state said apex portion is out of
alignment with the receiving portion such that said apex portion is
unable to move through said receiving portion; whereby a hook may
be placed into a stowed position by flexing the hook into said
flexed state, pivoting the hook to move its apex portion into the
corresponding receptacle retaining portion and returning the hook
into said relaxed state such that the hook cannot be pivoted away
from said elongated bar and through the corresponding receiving
portion.
13. The garment hanging device according to claim 1, wherein the
retaining portion of said receptacles is generally coincident with
a longitudinal center line extending between said first and second
ends of said elongated bar.
14. The garment hanging device according to claim 8, wherein the
retaining portion of said receptacles is generally coincident with
a longitudinal center line extending between said first and second
ends of said elongated bar.
15. The garment hanging device according to claim 12, wherein the
retaining portion of said receptacles is generally coincident with
a longitudinal center line extending between said first and second
ends of said elongated bar.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for hanging clothing or
other articles. More particularly, the present invention relates to
a device for simultaneously hanging and storing several garment
hangers on a closet rod in either a vertically or a horizontally
spaced manner.
BACKGROUND
Storage of clothing and other articles is a problem faced to one
degree or another by virtually every person in virtually every
society of the modern world. For example, numerous types of
clothing articles are commonly stored in clothes closets, suspended
from a clothing hanger which is in turn suspended from, or hung on,
a closet rod. Other articles such as clothing accessories and other
items may be similarly stored.
Hanging clothing articles in this manner is desirable for clothing
articles which might become creased or wrinkled if folded and
stored laying flat, such as in a drawer or on a closet shelf. For
example, shirts, slacks, jackets, sweaters, blouses, dresses, among
numerous other clothing articles, may be stored in a hanging
manner.
However, closet space in many dwellings is limited, and therefore
space available for hanging clothes may be limited as well. Often,
for example, space for hanging clothes within a clothes closet is
limited to a single closet rod spanning the length of the
closet.
Accordingly, a limited number of clothes may be hung on a single
closet rod when the clothes are hung on clothes hangers suspended
side-by-side on the single bar.
One solution to this problem has been provided in the form of an
elongated bar having a pair of hooks, attached respectively at each
end of the bar, for hanging the bar from a closet rod. A number of
holes are provided through the bar for insertion of plural clothes
hangers, such that when the bar is hung on the closet rod by only a
single hook, clothing articles hung on several hangers are
suspended in a generally vertical arrangement along the rod and
below the hook. While functional, the task of threading a garment
hanger hook through a through-hole in such an apparatus may be
difficult, and may result in dropping a garment from the garment
hanger as the garment hanger is turned or oriented, for insertion
of the hook through the through-hole, into positions not suited for
retaining the hanging garment.
Moreover, when such a bar is hung, by a single hook, in the
vertical position, the second hook simply dangles below the bar,
serving no function. The dangling hook may snag clothing or other
items, in particular the clothes or hangers that are suspended from
the device.
Hence, it is desirable to provide an improvement for the known
through-holes and to provide a mechanism for the hooks to be
positionable, and securable, in a "stowed" position such that
interference of the hooks may be avoided. Further, the ability to
place the hooks into a "stowed" position may improve the
compactness of a hanging device for better storage or
packaging.
SUMMARY
In a garment hanging device of the present invention, an elongated
bar is provided having a first and a second end, and a top and a
bottom edge extending between the first and second ends in a
longitudinal direction. At least one hook is pivotably coupled to
an end of the elongated bar. In an embodiment, first and second
hooks are pivotally coupled to the first and second ends of the
elongated bar, and are configured to be removably hooked over a
closet rod such that the bar may be suspended from the closet rod
by the first hook, the second hook, or both hooks.
A plurality of hanger receptacles are defined, spaced apart from
one another, in said elongated bar. Each of the hanger receptacles
has a receiving portion open at the top edge of the elongated bar,
and a retaining portion. That is, generally speaking, each hanger
receptacle has an opening at a top edge of the elongated bar (for
receiving the hook of a garment hanger or the like), and a
retaining portion below the top edge opening. For example, a
receiving portion (such as the top opening or slot) has a length in
the longitudinal direction of the bar for insertion of a garment
hanger, and a wider retaining portion (the portion of the
receptacle below the receiving portion or top opening) has a length
in the longitudinal direction of the bar greater than the length of
the receiving portion.
By this arrangement, a clothes hanger hook may be simply dropped
(lowered vertically) into a hanger receptacle. Further, the clothes
hanger hook is securely retained in the receptacle in either a
horizontal or a vertical orientation of the bar.
The hooks are configured such that the hooks may be pivoted into a
stowed position, wherein a part of the hook is engaged in one of
the receptacles. With the garment hanging device hung by a single
hook in the vertical orientation, a lower hook may be pivoted into
the stowed position to avoid catching a garment, garment hanger, or
other item on the lower hook. Also, with the hooks pivoted into the
stowed position, the garment hanging device is made more compact
for storage, shipping or the like.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of one embodiment of a
garment hanging device according to the present invention, shown in
a horizontal hanging arrangement.
FIG. 2 is an environmental perspective view of the garment hanging
device of FIG. 1, shown in a vertical hanging arrangement.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an elongated bar element of the garment
hanging device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a hook element of the garment hanging
device of FIG. 1, including a partial view of the bar showing a
relationship between the hook and the bar.
FIG. 5a is a partial view of the garment hanging device of FIG. 1
wherein one of the hooks is flexed into alignment with the
receiving portion of one of the receptacles.
FIG. 5b is a partial view of the garment hanging device of FIG. 1
wherein one of the hooks is placed into its stowed position within
the retaining portion of one of the receptacles.
FIG. 6 is a side view of a hanging device showing alternatively
shaped receptacles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is a garment hanging device 100 configured to
support a plurality of clothing hangers on a single bar. The
garment hanging device 100 includes at least one hook 120 for
hanging the garment hanging device 100, such as from a closet rod
200. An illustrated embodiment includes a hook 120 at each end of
the garment hanging device 100 such that the garment hanging device
100 is suspendable from a closet rod 200 or other clothing rod or
support in a horizontal or vertical orientation.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of a garment hanging device
100 is shown comprising an elongated bar 110 having a first end 111
and a second end 113, and a top edge 115 and a bottom edge 117
extending between the first and second ends 111, 113 in a
longitudinal direction.
First and second hooks 120 are pivotally coupled to the first and
second ends 111, 113 of the bar 110, respectively. The first and
second hooks 120 are configured to be removably hooked over a
closet rod 200 or another support such that the bar 110 may be
suspended from the closet rod 200 by both of the hooks 120 as seen
in FIG. 1, or a single hook 120 as seen in FIG. 2.
A plurality of hanger receptacles 130 are defined spaced apart from
one another in the bar 110. Each of the hanger receptacles 130 has
a receiving portion 131 open at the top edge 115 of the bar 110 and
a retaining portion 133. The receiving portion 131 has a length in
the longitudinal direction of the bar 110 for insertion of a
garment hanger, and the retaining portion 133 has a length
generally in the longitudinal direction that is greater than the
length of the receiving portion 131.
Turning to FIG. 3, an embodiment is shown wherein the receiving
portion 131 is a slot extending from the top edge 115 to the
retaining portion 133, and the retaining portion 133 is a slot
extending substantially along the longitudinal direction of the bar
110, between the top and bottom edges 115, 117 of the bar. The
receiving portion 131 is in communication with the retaining
portion 133, so that a hanger inserted into the receiving portion
131 is guided into the retaining portion 133. In one embodiment, at
least one end 135 of the retaining portion 133 extends beyond a
side wall 137 of the receiving portion 131. In the illustrated
example, both ends of the retaining portion 133 extend beyond
corresponding sides of the receiving portion, forming an inverted
T-shaped receptacle.
Referring back to FIG. 2, it can be seen that when a hanger hook
210 is received in one of the receptacles 130, and the garment
hanging device 100 is suspended in its vertical orientation, the
hanger hook 210 is disposed in one end 135 of the retaining portion
133 whereby the hanger hook 210 is prevented from falling or
becoming dislodged from the receptacle 130.
Referring to FIG. 4, a hook 120 is shown in greater detail having a
coupling end 121 which is configured to be pivotably coupled to
pivot point of the bar 110. The hook 120 may be removably coupled
to the bar 110, for example by providing a snap fitting 123 at the
coupling end 121. In the illustrated embodiment, the snap fitting
123 comprises a split post extending from the coupling end 121 of
the hook 120 and having a tapered flange at an outer end,
configured for insertion into a pivot socket 118 defined laterally
into or through the bar 110 at the pivot point 119 of the bar
110.
A hooking portion 125 of the hook 120 extends from the coupling end
121, through an apex portion 127 generally diametrically opposite
the coupling end 121, to a terminal end 129. In the illustrated
example, the hooking portion 125 follows a generally curved or
arcuate path, although other shapes including polygonal shapes may
be used.
The hooks 120 are resiliently and elastically flexible from a
relaxed state to a flexed state, such that a distance between the
coupling end 121 and the apex portion 127 varies between the
relaxed state and the flexed state.
In the flexed state, as shown in FIG. 5a, a distance D.sub.f
between the coupling end 121 and the apex portion 127 corresponds
to a distance D.sub.c between the pivot point 119 and the receiving
portion 131 of a corresponding one of the receptacles 130, such
that when the hook 120 is pivoted to bring the apex portion 127
toward the top edge 115 of the bar 110, the apex portion 127 is
aligned with the receiving portion 131 of the corresponding
receptacle 130.
In the relaxed state, as shown in FIG. 5b, a distance D.sub.r
between the coupling end 121 and the apex portion 127 is greater or
less than the distance D.sub.c between the pivot point 119 and the
receiving portion 131 of the corresponding receptacle 130.
Hence, a hook 120, beginning in it's deployed position, may be
flexed into its flexed state and pivoted to pass the apex portion
127 through the receiving portion 131, locating the apex portion
127 within the retaining portion. When the hook 120 is then
returned to its relaxed state, the apex portion 127 will be
retained in the retaining portion 133, at a position out of
alignment with the receiving portion 131, such that the hook 120 is
retained in a stowed position as shown in FIG. 5b.
Conversely, once in the stowed position, the hook 120 may be flexed
into its flexed state (thereby aligning the apex portion 127 with
the receiving portion) and pivoted to remove the apex portion 127
from the receiving portion 131, passing the apex portion 127
through the receiving portion 131 to a deployed position wherein
the hook 120 may be used for example to hang the garment hanging
device on a closet rod 200, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.
In addition to the illustrated embodiment, wherein two hooks are
provided, a single hook may be used in an embodiment that is used
only in the vertically hanging orientation, as in FIG. 2.
The bar 110 and hooks 120 may be formed of any suitable material.
In a preferred embodiment, the bar 110 and hooks 120 are formed of
a molded resilient flexible plastic material, resulting in a low
manufacturing cost. While it may be advantageous that the bar 110
and hooks 120 are formed from the same material, different
materials may be used. For example, the bar 110 may be formed of a
rigid material, while the hooks 120 are formed of a flexible and
resilient material allowing the hooks 120 to be moved between the
flexed and relaxed positions.
Referring to FIG. 6, alternatively shaped receptacles 161, 163,
165, 167 and 169 are shown. For example, the receptacles may be
circular 161, triangular 163, "L" shaped 165, "+" shaped 167, or
other shapes.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to
the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all
embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *